Zimal stood frozen, her eyes glassy with tears she refused to let fall.
Her chest felt tight, as if something heavy was pressing down on her heart.
Before she could fully process what was happening, a figure stepped closer.
He bent slightly, his gaze locking with hers—intense, unreadable.
he look at her eye and siad”I missed you, Zimal,” he said softly.
Her breath hitched.
For a moment, the world around her blurred—sounds faded, time slowed.
It was as if her entire existence had paused at the sound of that voice.
”Za… Zaroon?” she whispered, barely believing it.
”Yes,” he replied simply.
Zimal didn’t know whether to step back or hold her ground.
Her mind was still stuck in memories she had buried long ago—memories of rejection, silence, and unanswered feelings.
She swallowed hard and forced her voice to stay steady.
”Let’s go.
Come with me.
I need to buy some fruit for my mom.”
Zaroon studied her face for a second, then nodded.
”Okay.”
They walked side by side, but there was a strange distance between them—like two people walking on the same path but in different worlds.
The grocery shop was close.
The air felt normal, but Zimal’s heart was anything but calm.
Inside the shop, Zaroon turned slightly.
”Miss, do you want anything?”
Zimal shook her head quickly.
“Nothing.
My mom only asked for fruit.”
Zaroon didn’t respond immediately.
Instead, he picked a few things and added them to the basket.
”But I’ll buy something for you too,” he said softly.
Zimal frowned slightly but didn’t argue.
After paying, they walked back home together.
The evening air was cooler now, but tension still hung between them.
Zaroon kept stealing glances at her.
Finally, he broke the silence.
”Zimal… are you okay now?”
Zimal kept her eyes forward.
“Yes.”
”And your mom?”
”Everyone is okay now.”
Her answers were short.
Controlled.
As if she was holding herself together by force.
Zaroon slowed his steps slightly.
”Zimal…”
She turned her head.
“Hmm?”
”I want to talk to you.”
She let out a small breath.
“We are talking.”
”No,” he said firmly.
“Not here.
On the back balcony.”
Zimal hesitated.
Something about his tone… serious.
Different.
After a pause, she nodded.
”Okay.”
”I’ll wait,” Zaroon said.
”I’ll come in a minute,” she replied.
Back Balcony
Zaroon stood alone, gripping the railing lightly.
His heart wasn’t calm—far from it.
Why am I nervous?
he thought.
He had faced so many things in life, yet this moment felt heavier than all of them combined.
Footsteps approached behind him.
Zimal appeared.
”Zaroon… yes?”
He turned slowly.
His eyes softened—but his voice carried weight.
”Do you remember… when you said you liked me?”
Zimal’s body stiffened.
A painful memory flashed in her mind—her confession, her hope, and the rejection that followed.
”How can I forget?” she said, her voice trembling slightly.
“When you rejected me.”
Silence fell between them.
Zaroon looked away for a second.
His jaw tightened.
”At that time…” he said slowly, “I didn’t feel the same.”
Zimal’s eyes narrowed slightly, hurt rising again.
”But now?” she asked sharply.
“Now what, Zaroon?”
He looked back at her.
And this time, his eyes were different.
Not confused.
Not distant.
”I’ve thought about it… a lot,” he admitted.
“And I think I…”
He stopped.
Zimal’s heart started beating faster, even though she didn’t want it to.
”You what?” she pressed.
Zaroon exhaled deeply.
”I really think about you now.
More than I should.”
For a moment, everything went silent.
Even the wind seemed to stop.
Zimal stared at him, searching for certainty—but finding none.
Her voice turned cold, defensive.
”You’re wasting my time.”
That hit him—but he didn’t react.
Instead, he lowered his gaze slightly.
”…Maybe I am,” he said quietly.
A pause.
Then he stepped back.
”Nothing.
You can go.”
Zimal hesitated, as if waiting for him to say something else.
Anything else.
But he didn’t.
Her throat tightened.
She turned away.
Mom is calling me.”
And she walked off.
Zaroon’s Thoughts
Zaroon remained on the balcony long after she left.
His fingers tightened on the railing.
I should have said it properly…
Why does it feel like I lost something I never even had?
He closed his eyes.
And for the first time, he admitted it to himself—
He wasn’t confused anymore.
He was just late.
maybe she nothing feel about me”
Unspoken Distance
After leaving Zimal, Zaroon returned home in silence.
He sat down on the chair without saying a word.
His mind was not in the room—it was still with her.
Zimal’s face kept appearing in his thoughts… her voice, her anger, her confusion, everything.
He leaned back and exhaled slowly.
I need to tell her the truth… he thought.
But then another thought hit him harder.
What if she rejects me?
What if I lose even this friendship?
That fear made him silent.
From outside, a voice called out.
”Zaroon, I’m coming!”
He didn’t respond.
His heart was already somewhere else.
Next Day – College
The morning at college felt normal—but not for Zaroon.
He was quiet.
Too quiet.
Afifa noticed it immediately.
”Zaroon… are you okay?
You seem silent today.”
Zaroon glanced at her.
“Nothing.”
Zimal, walking beside them, also looked at him carefully.
”I also noticed it,” she said softly.
Afifa raised her eyebrows.
“Ohhh… I understand.”
Zaroon frowned.
“What?”
Afifa laughed lightly.
“Nothing, nothing.”
Zimal smirked slightly.
“Don’t tease him.
He’ll start crying now… like a little baby.”
Zaroon’s eyes widened.
“I heard that.”
But instead of arguing, he suddenly turned away and walked quickly toward his class.
Afifa blinked.
“What happened to him?”
Zimal tilted her head.
“Maybe… he fell for someone.”
Afifa looked at her surprised.
“How could you know?”
Zimal’s smile faded a little.
”Because when I loved Zaroon…” she said quietly, “I acted the same way.
And this… is new for him.”
Afifa stayed silent for a moment.
“Who is the girl?”
Zimal shrugged slightly.
“How would I know?
Maybe he wanted to tell me… but stopped.”
A strange silence passed between them.
Then they both walked into class.
Inside, Zaroon was already sitting.
His expression was unreadable.
Zimal walked up to him.
”Tell me,” she said casually, “are you in love with someone?
Or are you seeing someone?”
Zaroon looked up immediately.
”What?” he said sharply.
“No… why would I?”
Zimal tilted her head.
“Yeah, you’re right.
You probably don’t even have a heart to love someone.”
The words hit him harder than she expected.
His expression changed for a second—hurt, silent, controlled.
Then he looked away.
The lecture passed in silence.
After Class
Zimal and Afifa walked toward him again.
”Let’s go to the canteen,” Afifa said.
Zaroon slowly looked up.
And his eyes met Zimal’s.
For a second, everything around him disappeared.
She looks… like a moon, he thought.
Her smile… I can’t stay near her like this.
I might lose control… or myself.
He quickly stood up.
”No… I have some work.”
Without waiting for a reply, he turned and left.
Zimal frowned.
“Is he really working?”
Afifa laughed softly.
“Or avoiding us?”
Both of them started walking toward the canteen, unaware of the storm building inside Zaroon’s heart.
Zimal and Afifa sat at a table in the canteen, their lunch untouched as their conversation continued.
Zimal sighed lightly.
“What are we going to do about him?”
Afifa smirked.
“Let’s find out who the girl is.
And tell me… are you really okay with that?”
Zimal’s expression didn’t change.
“I already told you.
I don’t feel anything for him anymore.”
Afifa nodded slowly.
“Hmm… that’s good for you.” Find the original chapter at g.com.
But her tone made it sound like she didn’t fully believe it.
At that moment, a boy approached and sat near them.
Zimal looked up.
“Yes?”
The boy smiled slightly.
“Nothing.
I just wanted to sit here.
May I?”
Afifa nodded.
“Okay, you can.”
Zimal studied him.
“I think I’ve never seen you before.”
The boy replied calmly, “Yes, I’m not in your class.
I’m your senior.”
Zimal raised one eyebrow.
“Oh.”
He quickly added, “Don’t misunderstand me.
I just wanted a place to sit.”
Afifa shrugged.
“Because?”
Zimal leaned back.
“Okay, let it be.”
From a distance, Zaroon was walking past.
His eyes landed on the scene.
Zimal sitting with another boy.
His jaw tightened instantly.
”That asshole…” he muttered under his breath.
And without another word, he walked away toward his class.
Back at the table, Zimal stood up.
“We’re done.
Are you finished?” she asked the boy.
”Yes,” he replied.
Afifa nodded.
“Okay, then let’s go.”
But as they were about to leave, the boy suddenly said, “You both can go.
I’ll sit here a little longer.”
Zimal frowned.
“Why?
Are you okay?”
Before he could answer, another group of boys approached.
One of them smirked.
“Oh look… prince hiding among women… or maybe girls?”
The boy’s body stiffened instantly.
He stood up slowly.
Zimal narrowed her eyes.
“Who are you people?”
One of them replied, “From his class… we’re his friends.”
Afifa frowned.
“Friends don’t talk like that.”
One boy snapped, “Shut your mouth.”
The atmosphere changed in a second.
Before anyone could react—
Zimal stepped forward.
Her face hardened.
And she swung.
A sharp hit landed on the boy.
”Behave,” she said firmly.
The boy touched his face in shock.
“You hit me?”
Zimal didn’t move.
“You want more?”
Silence fell.
Just then, Zaroon appeared.
He grabbed Zimal’s hand immediately.
”Are you sick?” he said sharply.
Zimal pulled slightly.
“No.”
”Then why did you punch him?”
”He misbehaved with me and Afifa,” she replied firmly.
Zaroon exhaled, frustrated—but his eyes softened when he saw her hand.
”Zimal… I’m with you.
Always.
You didn’t have to do it alone.”
He noticed her knuckles.
”You’re bleeding.”
”Stay here,” he ordered.
Moments later, Zaroon returned with a bandage.
He gently took her hand.
”Give me your hand.”
Zimal hesitated… then placed it in his.
Zaroon carefully wrapped the bandage around her wound.
”If you ever want to hit someone again… call me,” he said quietly.
“I’ll teach them a lesson properly.”
Zimal looked at him.
“Why?”
Zaroon paused.
“Hmm?”
”Why do you care so much?”
For a moment, he didn’t answer.
Then he slowly released her hand.
And said it—softly, but clearly.
”I like someone.”
Zimal blinked.
“I knew it.
Who is she?”
Zaroon looked at her for a long moment.
His expression stayed calm… but his heart wasn’t.
Inside, everything was screaming.
She still doesn’t feel it…
Zimal tilted her head.
“Tell me.”
Zaroon took a breath.
”…You.”
Silence.
The world seemed to stop around them.
Zimal didn’t move.
Didn’t speak.
Didn’t react.
And that silence… said everything.